Sep. 19th, 2014

Sep. 19th, 2014

"Research has identified highly effective sex education and HIV prevention programs that affect multiple behaviors and/or achieve positive health impacts. Behavioral outcomes have included delaying the initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex, and/or increasing the use of condoms and contraception among sexually active participants. Long-term impacts have included lower STI and/or pregnancy rates." [x]

We need to equip people with knowledge and resources to maintain a healthy and safe lifestyle. By teaching comprehensive sex education we are allowing people to make informed decisions about their health and and personal lives. - Paige

The Basics (Anatomy and Biological functions):

What is a vagina?

What is a vulva? (Basic Anatomy inside links.)

What is the vagina’s biological function during sexual intercourse (specifically PIV sex)?

What is the uterus and what is it’s biological function?

What is a hymen and what are the different kinds of hymens?

What is the purpose of a hymen?

Which hole does urine come out of and which hole does menstruation come out of?

Menstrual Cycle:

What is a menstrual cycle?

What is menstruation?

Why do we menstruate?

How to use pads, tampons, and menstrual cups.

What is ovulation?

Vaginal Hygiene:

The vagina, is in fact, designed to keep itself clean with the help of natural secretions (discharge). But there are ways you can help maintain the cleanliness of your vagina (i.e. avoiding perfumed soaps and gently washing the vulva area, not the actual vagina.) Click the link for more information.

*Vaginal odors and discharge; what’s normal and what’s not?

What is douching?

What are Pap Smears?

"A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in people. A Pap smear involves collecting cells from your cervix — the lower, narrow end of your uterus that’s at the top of your vagina."

When do I need a pap smear?

What are vaginal orgasms? Clitoral orgasms? G-Spot orgasms? How can you achieve an orgasm?

"A “vaginal orgasm” is the notion that [people] can have an orgasm through stimulation during intercourse or other vaginal penetration, entirely without clitoral stimulation. However, the vagina has few nerve endings, and therefore cannot create an orgasm on its own. Instead of thinking of the vagina and clitoris as separate entities, try thinking about them as a network of nerves and muscles."

"There’s some disagreement about the size of the G-spot; it may range from a quarter inch to a couple inches along the upper wall of your vagina, about an inch or two past your vaginal opening. Underneath it is highly sensitive tissue that, when touched the right way, triggers feelings of sexual happiness, explains Debby Herbenick, PhD."

Myths and facts about orgasms.

Tips on how to have an orgasm.

Having trouble reaching an orgasm? No worries, there is help! [x][x]

Female Genital Mutilation Information:

"Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."

“The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.”

"Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths."

"FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women."

The Basics (Anatomy and Biological Functions):

What is a penis?

What are testicles? (Basic Anatomy inside links.)

What is the penis’ biological function during sexual intercourse? (Specifically PIV sex.)

Examining your testicles for Testicular Cancer: How to.

Penile Hygiene:

"Gently wash the penis with warm water each day when you’re having a shower or bath. If you have a foreskin, pull it back gently and wash underneath."

"Gently washing your penis once a day with warm water is sufficient to maintain good hygiene. If you want to use soap, choose a mild or non-perfumed soap to reduce the risk of skin irritation."

What is an erection and ejaculation?

"An erection begins in the brain. Physical and/or mental stimulation cause nerves in the brain to send chemical messages to nerves in the penis telling the penile blood vessels to relax so that blood can flow freely into the penis. Once in the penis, high pressure traps the blood within both corpora cavernosa. This causes the penis to expand and sustain an erection."

"Ejaculation, the release of semen at climax, is triggered when a person reaches a critical level of excitement."

*Overcoming ejaculation problems.

Is ejaculation and having an orgasm the same thing?

What is semen and what does it do?

What is Erectile Dysfunction? Treatments.

What is circumcision & is it medically necessary?

"Circumcision is the removal of a simple fold of skin (the `foreskin’ or `prepuce’) that covers the head (glans) of the un-erect penis."

While there are benefits of being circumcised, it is not medically necessary.

The Basics:

What is masturbation and how do you do it?

Why do people masturbate?

Is masturbating normal and can it be harmful? (Short answer: Masturbation is normal, and no it is not harmful!)

WebMDs Masturbation FAQ.

The benefits of masturbation: [x] [x]

An Asexual’s Guide to Masturbation.

What is sex?

People define “sex” in different ways. Some people believe that it only counts as sex if a penis goes into a vagina, but this isn’t true for everybody. There are lots of different ideas about what sex can be: Vaginal sex (penis-in-vagina intercourse), Oral sex (mouth-to-genital contact), Anal sex (penis-in-anus intercourse), Dry humping or genital rubbing, Fingering or hand jobs (hand-to-genital contact), and Masturbation.

What is oral sex?

What is anal sex?

Why do people have sex?

How to have safe sex.(STI and pregnancy prevention goes more in depth below!)

What is Consent and is it mandatory?

"Whenever you have sex, you need to make sure that your partner is just as enthusiastic about having sex. In other words, that they give their full consent.” Consent is an enthusiastic, freely-given, uncoerced, sober, “yes”.

Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention.

What do I do if I’ve been sexually assaulted?

Sexual assault prevention and awareness.

Resources for sexual assault victims: United States.

Resources for sexual assault victims: Canada.

Resources for sexual assault victims: United Kingdom.

More international resources.

More resources.

Is sex supposed to hurt the first time?

"While it’s common for [some] to feel pain or discomfort with sex, it’s not “normal” in that it has to happen or there isn’t an alternative. Sex is not supposed to hurt: it’s supposed to feel very good.”[Inside the link above, it does explain what to do to make sure sex is not painful.]

Are there benefits to having sex?

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex.

Top 11 Benefits of Having Sex.

14 Unexpected Benefits of Having Sex.

What does MOGII mean?

Marginalized Orientation, Gender Identity, and Intersex.It’s a synonym for LGBTQIAP+ and is inclusive for people who don’t have or don’t want labels, rejects allies, and uses no reclaimed slurs.

What is a sexual orientation?

"Sexual orientation describes to whom a person is sexually attracted. Some people are attracted to people of a particular gender; others are attracted to more than one gender. Some are not attracted to anyone."

“Affectional orientation is a term that describes to whom a person is romantically attracted, acknowledging that for many people there are more components to attraction than just sexual desire.”

What is gender identity?

"The ways in which a person identifies and/or expresses their gender, including self-image, appearance, and embodiment of gender roles. One’s sex (e.g., male, female, intersex, etc.) is usually assigned at birth based on one’s physical biology. One’s gender (e.g., man, woman, genderqueer, etc.) is one’s internal sense of self and identity.”

Some gender identities.

Some more gender identities.

Genderqueer and Non Binary Identities.

Resources for most Gender Identities.(Resources for understanding gender identity, figuring out yours, how to come out to parents and friends, transitioning resources, local supports, and more!)

What is asexuality?

"Some people who identify as asexual do not experience sexual attraction to other people, while others experience sexual attraction but no desire to act on these attractions."

“Asexuality and Celibacy are not the same. Many people who are asexual live a celibate life, meaning that they do not engage in sex with others. But while Celibacy is a choice, asexuality is not.”

"Asexuality is not a dysfunction, and there is no need to find a "cause" or a "cure."" [x]

Are all people who identify as asexual sex repulsed? No!

Asexual Visibility and Education Network.

What does transgender mean? (Resources below!)

"Transgender – or trans – is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or expression is different from those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth (e.g., the sex listed on their birth certificate)." [x]

"Transgender may be used to describe someone who was assigned female or male at birth, but later realizes that label doesn’t accurately reflect who they feel they are inside."

Resources for transgender people.

More resources for transgender people

Coming Out as Trans

All About Gender Therapy

Trans Health Matters: Trans Women

Trans Health Matters: Trans Men

Top 10 Trans-Friendly Colleges

What does intersex mean?

“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.

How common is intersex?

Intersex Society of North America.

Resources for intersex people.

What are STIs, how do you get them, and what are the symptoms?

"A sexually transmissible infection (STI) is any infection or disease that can be passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Sexually transmissible infections include chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, scabies, pubic lice (crabs), hepatitis and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).”

Why do we call them STIs now and not STDs?

Everyone is at risk of obtaining an STI, but some are more at risk.

STIs that can be contracted through non-sexual contact.

How do you protect yourself from STIs?

Female / male condoms and dental dams.

Finger cots (finger condoms).

Post-exposure prophylaxis, is a short-term antiretroviral treatment to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure.

Know the signs and symptoms of an STI. If you notice a symptom that worries you, get checked out!

How do I get tested for STIs?

What treatments are out there for STIs?

What is pregnancy? When are you considered to be pregnant? How do you get pregnant?

To be pregnant is to have an embryo/fetus developing in your uterus. “A pregnancy is considered to be established only after implantation is complete.”

"When engaging in unprotected vaginal intercourse during which ejaculation of sperm occurs in the vagina. The sperm can then travel up through the cervix, into the uterus, and, if an egg is present, the sperm may fertilize it."

"It is also possible — but less likely — for a person to become pregnant through any kind of sex play in which semen, or ejaculate, comes in contact with the vulva. The sperm can travel through the moisture on the vulva into the vagina."

WebMD’s Online Pregnancy Center.

What to Expect: Pregnancy.

Pregnancy Resources.

What are my options if I get pregnant?

If you’re pregnant you have three options; parenting, adoption, and abortion.

Only you can decide what is right for you, definitely take some time to go over your options, but remember, the sooner you decide the more options you’ll have.

Resources for Decision Making and Low Income Parenting.

Abortion funds and Judicial Bypass.

How do you prevent pregnancy? (Check out birth control masterpost below.)

"Birth control allows us to prevent pregnancy and plan the timing of pregnancy."

Birth control is not a “one size fit’s all deal” there are all different kinds of birth control out there from hormonal to non hormonal, methods to medicines, and so on. The best way to figure out which birth control works best for you is by doing research and speaking with your doctor.

****Contraceptives Masterpost****^^ Lists many birth control options (and links you to more information about these options), goes over emergency contraceptives and FAQs, birth control FAQs, options for people with allergies or personal preferences, and debunks myths about birth control.

1) my headaches are back with a frequency and intensity they haven’t had in nearly six years

2) this may possibly be related to the new meds I’m on, but there are no guarantees of that and

3) I really fucking need these meds because I am mostly functioning all throughout the day after taking them but then it’s all ideation and self-loathing and northern virginia in the late evening.

4) all of this is compounded by the fact that work is currently hellish and I have gone from very distant supervision to micromanagement like ~that~ and don’t get along with or am able to communicate with my supervisor to boot

5) plus all the recent mom stuff altho good things happened there lately i should post about that at some point

6) and all those adulting things i’m working on like finding an apartment and NEW DOCTORS

“I wouldn’t necessarily mind people not knowing I’m gay, but I don’t like being thought of as straight — in the same way that I don’t mind people not knowing I’m a writer, but it would be awkward if they assumed I was an extreme skateboarder, because that’s so far removed from the reality of my life. But there is no blank slate where orientation is concerned; we are straight until proven otherwise. And if you’ve never seen how dramatically a conversation can be derailed by a casual admission of homosexuality, let me tell you, it gets awkward.”- My Life as an Invisible Queer - Cosmopolitan (via feministlibrarian)via:Tumblr http://ift.tt/1sAhNsI

So, one question I get asked by at least one new person every time I talk about rope is, “What kind of rope should I get?” (Exact phrasing varies.)

My answer is usually something vague and slightly unhelpful like, “Well, that depends…”

(This is how I answer a lot of rope questions.)

I’ve decided to write up a guide to the most common kinds of rope, their pros and cons, and some places you can buy them specifically for kink purposes. The usual diameter for most bondage rope is 5 or 6 mm, depending on preference; some places will go up to 7 or 8 mm but at that thickness it can be hard to work with and get very bulky. Rope will either be braided or twisted in construction. Twisted ropes leave good rope marks and have more bite to them, while braided ropes (usually with a core of some kind) are more solid and have less stretch, and also do not run the risk of high-stranding or opening up while in use.

Keep in mind that what some people (me) consider to be a pro of certain kinds of rope, others might find to be a disadvantage. Try a few kinds, use different kinds for different things, learn about all the possible types available to you and what you can/can’t do with them!

Natural Fiber

The common natural fiber types used for bondage are hemp, jute, and cotton. Other materials include bamboo, silk, and linen, but they are less common and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for beginners. There is also coconut, palm frond, and sisal rope, but those are specifically for torture techniques, not general use.

Pros of natural fibers:

-They have an innate grip or bite to them which allows the rigger to use friction to hold rope in place when tying, rather than relying entirely on knots.

- They have a higher burn point than synthetic ropes, so it’s harder to give your bottom rope burn (exception: woven cotton rope such as the kind which is sold as ‘bondage rope’ by sex toy companies. This stuff has a very low burn point.)

-They have less stretch than most synthetics, so when you tie them they stay at that tension, more or less, making it harder to wriggle out of (exception: braided cotton, which is very stretchy.)

Cons

- Being natural instead of man-made, there really isn’t a way to 100% know how strong any given piece of rope is. Most sellers/manufacturers have tested them to a reasonable level of surety, but there could be weaknesses in the fibers that aren’t apparent.

-Some people have hemp or jute allergies, or sensitivities to the products used to treat them.

-Unless you buy them pre-conditioned, you might have to put time into defuzzing and treating them before use, otherwise they are very stiff and scratchy.

- Washing and drying them can be a pain; you have to dry them under tension so they don’t shrink down, and washing can weaken them. They also aren’t great for using in water bondage, as they are very hard to untie when soaked.

Hemp

Hemp is a really common rope material for shibari and Western-style bondage. It’s strong, soft when broken in, and has a pleasant weight to it that some bottoms enjoy. It has a grassy/horsey scent as well, which some people love and some people hate. I like hemp for long-term wearable bondage or bondage for sleeping in because of how soft it is when worn in. It takes dye better than jute does, so finding it in pretty colors is easier. There is also a synthetic version of hemp available, called Hempex, which is made of polyester to mimic the look and feel of hemp while retaining the strength of synthetic rope.

Jute

Jute is pretty much the rope du jour in the Shibari world at the moment. It’s much lighter than hemp, allowing for faster tying and carrying around more of it without having a bag that weighs a ton. Jute doesn’t have the cloth-like softness of hemp; it tends to be a bit scratchier even when broken in. It isn’t quite as strong as hemp, either, but you can find jute that has been reinforced with nylon or Dyneema for strength. I use jute in most of my tying, with reinforced jute for my suspension lines.

Most jute and hemp rope sold for bondage is twisted, but it is possible to find braided varieties.

Cotton

Commonly sold as a starter sex rope, cotton is soft, stretchy, and cheap. It is generally not as strong as hemp or jute so is rarely used for suspensions. It can be found or dyed in many colors. Its softness means it really compresses under tension, so tying knots very tightly can mean spending ages getting them undone; this goes extra if it’s wet. It’s easily washable and easy to come by. I honestly barely use it, except to give to Peer Rope people for practice rope.

Synthetics

There are two main kinds of synthetic ropes used for bondage — nylon and MFP (multi-filament polypropelene), though polyester rope is also available from some sellers. Synthetic rope is much more common in Western-style bondage than in Shibari, and the ties used there are more suited to its properties. Braided construction is more common in synthetic ropes but it is possible to find twisted varieties if you’re going for rope marks. You’ll usually find synthetics for bondage sold in 5/16” or 1/4” diameters, roughly comparable to 5mm and 6mm.

Pros

- Synthetic rope is manufactured from man-made materials, so it is consistent in size and strength. Apart from possible manufacturing error, all pieces of a rope of a given diameter should have the same load bearing capabilities. Synthetic rope is much stronger and more reliable than natural fiber.

-Synthetics come in all the colors of the rainbow, and won’t fade or bleed dye the way dyed natural fibers do.

-Synthetics are easy to care for, usually machine washable and hang to dry with no ill effects. This makes them ideal for rope play around bodily fluids or water. They also don’t compact when wet the way natural fibers do, retaining their shape and slickness, so they are easier to untie when wet.

-You don’t have to treat or break in synthetics. They’re ready to go!

Cons

-Synthetics are slick and slippery; you cannot depend on friction to hold things in place the way you can with natural fibers.

-It is much easier to give someone rope burn with synthetic ropes, so be aware when pulling rope quickly over skin or between parts of the body. Even though they feel softer and smoother than the naturals, they heat up faster.

-Some bottoms who are used to natural fibers really don’t like synthetics (this is mostly a snobbery issue, in fairness.)

Nylon

Nylon is stronger than MFP, while still feeling slightly softer and more sensual. 100% nylon rope can be great for bottoms with sensitivities to other materials. It’s not as water-resistant as MFP but is still good for wet or messy play. It is stretchier than natural fibers.

MFP

Not as strong as nylon, but with less stretch as well for more accurate tension. MFP repels water, making it ideal for wet or messy play and the ensuring cleanup.

Polyester

Polyester has a softer, warmer feel than the other two and a slightly higher burn point (though still lower than natural fibers). It is stronger than nylon and MFP.

As with everything in rope, for each point I’ve made above, you can find someone who disagrees. Do your own research, try things, and come to your own conclusions.

Now where to get all these marvellous kinds of rope?

Here are some places in the UK and the US where you can get rope. I’ve added a note with each about what kinds of rope they sell/specialize in. This is not an exhaustive list by any means; this is just a few that I know and/or have experience with. I’m sorry if I’ve left out your favorite local artisan who makes hand-twisted spiderweb and unicorn-hair rope that glows in the dark.

OMG, MARISA, WHAT HAVE YOU STARTED, I CAN’T STOP. Also, in case nobody got it, Brittany is supposed to be a toaster. To the people following me, I have like…6 pages worth of Klaine toast. Seriously. I was that bored today. If you know this is going to annoy you eventually, I suggest unfollowing me :’D

moonlitgleek januarium

and somehow, still not as weird as the sga mcshep story where they were actualfax girlscout cookies.

OMG, MARISA, WHAT HAVE YOU STARTED, I CAN’T STOP. Also, in case nobody got it, Brittany is supposed to be a toaster. To the people following me, I have like…6 pages worth of Klaine toast. Seriously. I was that bored today. If you know this is going to annoy you eventually, I suggest unfollowing me :’D

moonlitgleek januarium

and somehow, still not as weird as the sga mcshep story where they were actualfax girlscout cookies.

*jazz hands* FANDOM

okay no i take it back my dash is full of toast!klaine and eggs-and-bacon!klaine and y’all are just as fucking weird as sga ever was.